It seems to me that I may have been remiss. You see, there is some important information that I have (for one reason or another) witheld from you, my readership (oh yeah, the reason is probably because I’m such a lazy blogger). Due to the influence of some of our Canadian friends, we have become board-game kind of people. I’m not talking about Monopoly or Risk - I’m talking about the new generation of boardgames - most of which were invented in Germany (go figure). Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Puerto Rico, Goa - we love ‘em. We have helped to spread the madness here a little bit, and currently there are quite a few of us who get together on a regular basis to play. Sadly, when we’re playing I’m usually too absorbed to take pictures, but I’ll try to get some up soon.
Franklin’s guitar class is going well. He doesn’t give me too many details (it was several months before I had any hard evidence that he was actually taking classes - a hand-made padauk wood string winder designed and executed by Franklin, seen here), but I get the impression that he might just be the teacher’s pet. Franklin is perfectly suited to luthiership: he is patient, exact, has strong, steady hands and a good eye. I can’t wait to see what is in store for him. We had a photographer friend come over last week to take pictures of Franklin’s guitars (he has collected 3 acoustics, 2 electrics, and a bass). The pictures came out great, I hope to have some of them up soon.
I have been spending all my free time madly studying CSS and web design - you see, I have been promoted to webmaster at the Embassy. I tried explaining to the powers that be that I really am not qualified, but they just patted me on the back and told me to get qualified. I have to say, I am rather enjoying myself, and I’m looking forward to overhauling the Embassy’s site.
On the home front: we have been living here on HaKfir street for well over 2 years and until last week we had yet to hang a single picture on the wall. We suddenly got inspired, and took a few of our favorite photos to the photo store across the street to have them blown up (thanks for the idea Dad!). We took the best of the lot and had them framed in a little shop down town. We also purchased a big mirror for behind our couch. The result was astounding. Our home feels much warmer and more welcoming now - it is amazing what a few pictures can do! These pictures also give us an opportunity to tell people about our time in New Zealand (2 black and whites in the living room) and Italy (2 pictures from Cinque Terre in the upstairs hallway). Fun for all!
I want to take this opportunity to announce to my cyber audience a few of the things I love about my dad. Dad is exceedingly punctual - better a half an hour early than 2 minutes late. He is intelligent, kind, and fun to be with. He speaks Italian (and, sometimes, real Italians understand him!). He loves literature and good books - especially Modern Library ones. He has impeccable taste in music, and raised his children on a steady diet of Jazz and Blues. He is a great cook, and knows the value of a good nap (clearly a trait that he passed on to his daughter). He is patient, loves science, and actively works for what he believes in. He looks fabulous in a turtleneck. He is outgoing and friendly. He enjoys hiking and camping - sand, snow, forest, wherever. He is a skilled woodworker. I love to hear my Dad laugh, and I’m often surprised at the things that make him laugh (UHF and The Gods Must Be Crazy, for example). He wore the horrible 12 foot-long rainbow striped scarf I knitted him when I was 13. Really, theres so much that I appreciate about my Dad - obviously I can’t write it all here (or even put it all in words), but I just wanted to say that I will never stop thanking the Lord for my Dad. I love you a bushel and a peck….
Today is also my grandparent’s anniversary - happy anniversary Barbara and FJ! (feeling too young to be grandparents when their first grandchild was born, Barbara and FJ trained us all to call them by their first names.) Barbara and FJ live in Slidell, Louisiana. Though we grew up far away from them (in Charlotte, NC), we spent several weeks at their house on lake Pontchartrain every summer - riding mopeds, eating oreos, fishing from the pier, playing ping-pong in the basement and cops and robbers in the lake. Most of my vivid childhood memories come from the lake house.
We got to Petra, hopped out, and entered the park. You start at the top of the canyon, and hike your way down through twisty rock-walled passages until you get to the bottom, where all the caves are. Our tour included a “horse ride” of about 1/2 kilometer at the very top, which was kinda fun in a very tourist way. Then we walked down down down. The canyon was amazing, and I have a million pictures (I hope to post some soon). I really can’t describe the actual stone carvings of Petra, except to say that although they look exactly like they do in picures and movies you have seen, nothing really compares to actually seeing them yourself. It’s strange to think of someone going through all the trouble to build these gorgeous tombs to honor the dead buried there, then not even bothering to leave a note about who that person was. Hmm.